Dan Smith
Partner
Dan is a leading commercial litigator and dispute resolution lawyer, known for crafting strategic solutions in high-stakes cross-border corporate, investment and finance disputes.
Partner
Dan is a leading commercial litigator and dispute resolution lawyer, known for crafting strategic solutions in high-stakes cross-border corporate, investment and finance disputes.
Languages - English
Jurisdiction - England & Wales
Dan Smith is a Partner specialising in high-stakes commercial disputes and litigation. He represents corporates, financial institutions, bondholders, lenders, shareholders, investors, issuers, trustees, management, and related parties in major cross-border disputes, focusing on High Court litigation and contentious restructuring and insolvency matters, along with internal and external investigations into fraud and other wrongdoing. His expertise spans nearly two dozen jurisdictions across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
He is experienced in shareholder, investment and management disputes, corporate trust and bondholder disputes, and contractual and commercial disputes. He acts for claimants and defendants, often across multi-party disputes in multiple jurisdictions, and with numerous stakeholders.
Clients value Dan's ability to develop comprehensive and practical dispute strategies early, aligning them with clients' business objectives to achieve success through litigation or alternative dispute resolution. His approach includes risk prevention strategies, pre-dispute counselling, and analysis.
His membership in the London Solicitors Litigation Association, along with his contributions to leading cases and trends in litigation, further solidify his reputation as a trusted guide in navigating complex legal challenges.
Life Sciences company
Led a team acting for Novacyt SA and its subsidiary Primer Design in relation to a £200 million+ contractual dispute with the UK Government arising from the supply of Covid-19 testing kits. The matter settled immediately prior to trial.
Life Sciences company
Advising a major US life sciences company in relation to a c. £100 million contractual dispute related to Covid-19 vaccine development. The matter settled prior to proceedings using ADR.
Life Sciences company
Advising a publicly-listed diagnostics company defending a business-critical contractual dispute. The claimant withdrew all claims.
Major Saudi Arabian bank
Led an international team defending Saudi National Bank (formerly Samba Financial Group), against a c. US$450 million claim by liquidators of Saad Investments Company Limited arising from the Maan Al-Sanea / Al-Gosaibi dispute, for 10+ years including a complete success in trial, and two appeals to the Supreme Court.
Global manufacturing group
Acting for the subsidiary of a major manufacturing company in relation to claims for unpaid corporate finance fees in the context of a public takeover. The matter settled after trial.
PE real estate business
Advising a PE real estate business resisting claims designed to prevent completion of a US$2.5 billion acquisition. The claims were settled and the acquisition completed.
Media company
Acting for a leading global media company defending unfair prejudice proceedings, and an injunction application to prevent completion of a corporate acquisition. The injunction was discharged and the proceedings withdrawn.
Security trustee
Leading a team acting for a major global bank in relation to a contested rectification claim by an issuer in the healthcare sector in relation to the provision of security in relation to a series of £500+ million publicly-traded bonds.
Bondholders
Acting for a consortium of bondholders in relation to a more than US$4 billion dispute in related US and UK court proceedings arising from the issuance of Argentine sovereign bonds.
CEO of tech company
Advising a former CEO in relation to claims arising from the termination of his position in a PE-backed technology company.
